Carrasco Pesquera, LaraJiménez Mora, EvaUtrilla, María JoséTéllez Pizarro, InésReglero, Marina M.Rico San Román, LauraMartín-Maldonado Jiménez, Bárbara2025-09-282025-09-282025arrasco, L., Jiménez-Mora, E., Utrilla, M. J., Pizarro, I. T., Reglero, M. M., Rico-San Román, L., & Martin-Maldonado, B. (2025). Birds as bioindicators: Revealing the widespread impact of microplastics. Birds, 6(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/birds60100102673-6004https://hdl.handle.net/11268/16244Plastic waste, especially microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), poses a significant threat to birds and ecosystems worldwide. These pollutants are ingested directly or indirectly through prey or contaminated habitats, affecting birds across various environments. Species in coastal and urban areas are particularly vulnerable, with seabirds often exposed to fishing-related debris and terrestrial birds to urban and industrial waste. MPs have been detected in a variety of avian tissues, feathers, feces, and regurgitations, with fibers being the most prevalent form due to their abundance in textiles and susceptibility to environmental transport. Detection efforts span from the Antarctica to the Labrador Sea, with North America, China, Australia, and South Europe being the regions that have invested more research into this issue. MPs and NPs have been shown to accumulate in gastrointestinal systems, inducing tissue damage, and disrupting metabolism and hormonal balance. Moreover, they also act as vectors for harmful chemicals like heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. Standardizing detection methods and understanding longterm effects on avian health are critical for addressing this pervasive issue and mitigating its ecological consequences.engjournal article10.3390/birds6010010open accessAveMedio ambienteContaminaciónGoal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patternsGoal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resourcesGoal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss